Blocked account for the Germany visa — Sperrkonto opening, €11,904 amount, embassy acceptance and health insurance bundle

Sources: § 13a AufenthV · AufenthG · Auswärtiges Amt · BAMF · BaFin · EU Visa Code 810/2009 · Care Concept AG AVB · Sutor Bank prospectus

No proof of finances — no German student visa, no language-course visa, no Chancenkarte. That is the simple rule the German consulate applies in almost every visa file. The case officer does not ask whether the applicant has €11,904 saved — they verify the Sperrkonto certificate (the Sperrkontobestätigung) issued by a BaFin-regulated German bank, regardless of whether the route is the student visa, the Studienkolleg visa, the language-course visa or the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) for skilled workers from outside the EU.

The standard route for foreigners is BASTI — Sperrkonto from €4.90/month + €65 one-time setup, with the €11,904 deposit held at Sutor Bank — the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle regularly accepted at German consulates as proof of finances under § 13a AufenthV. Source: Care Concept AG AVB 2026; Sutor Bank prospectus. For the Schengen visa-window before German enrolment opens the standard cover is Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day — bundled free with BASTI Smart and Premium. After enrolment, students switch to DAK garantie from ~€135.52/month via the M10 notification — also discounted inside BASTI Smart.

Below: why the embassy of Germany rejects the file when the proof of funding sits at a non-German bank, when the Verpflichtungserklärung can substitute for the Sperrkonto — and how the BASTI bundle (Sperrkonto + Care Visa Protect + DAK garantie) is structured.

Whether the move is a German student visa application from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam or Turkey, a US-passport Chancenkarte file, or a UK-passport Studienkolleg year, the proof-of-finances line is the same: the German consulate wants €11,904 sitting in a BaFin-regulated German blocked account before any decision. This page covers the German student visa requirements, what counts as a block account in Germany, how the monthly €992 payout works, how to withdraw money from the blocked account in Germany after arrival, why a second-year top-up is normally needed, and what the difference between a blocked account and a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) is in practice.

Editor's note: supporting Sperrkonto and visa files with Care Concept covers since 2009, the two most common mistakes we see at the German consulate counter are a foreign-bank "blocked savings account" the case officer cannot verify, and a Schengen travel policy that misses the German student-visa health-insurance wording. Both are avoidable — the BASTI provider matrix, the 6-step opening checklist and the post-arrival 30-day plan further down show which fee, certificate wording and bundled cover keep the appointment from stalling. Last reviewed by Steffan Grund on April 24, 2026.

Editorial standards & how we verify prices — prices, statute references and Sperrkonto amounts are checked against the Care Concept AG AVB, the current § 13a AufenthV / BAföG rate and Sutor Bank disclosures on every quarterly review.

What is a blocked account in Germany?

Quick answer: A blocked account (German: Sperrkonto) is a German bank account that holds the proof-of-finances deposit the German consulate requires for the student visa, the language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. The amount is set by § 13a AufenthV — €11,904 for a 12-month stay in 2026 (12 × the €992 BAföG monthly rate). After arrival in Germany the bank releases €992 per month to the holder.

In practice every German consulate accepts a blocked bank account opened at a BaFin-supervised German bank. BASTI (the Care Concept × Sutor Bank bundle from €4.90/month) is the route we place; other BaFin-regulated providers in this market that international students commonly research include Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank and Sparkasse. Each provider publishes its own fees, processing time and conditions on its own website. Foreign-currency "blocked savings accounts" at a non-German bank are not what § 13a AufenthV asks for — the consulate verifies the Sperrkontobestätigung from a German bank. The binding decision always rests with the responsible visa officer.

One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline

A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start.

• Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process.
• Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required.
• The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation.

Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover.

Why act before your visa financial proof is due

A blocked account is not just a PDF. The account must be opened and funded before confirmation can support visa documents.

Amount 2026 — €11,904 in the blocked account (€992 per month)

Quick answer: The German blocked-account amount for 2026 is €11,904 — the same figure as 2025. It equals 12 × €992, the current monthly BAföG rate referenced by § 13a AufenthV. The amount is reviewed annually; always confirm the rate on the German consulate page for the home country before transferring funds.

Indicative figures based on § 13a AufenthV and the BAföG monthly rate. See the official text at gesetze-im-internet.de — § 13a AufenthV. The Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) updates the rate on individual consulate pages annually.

BASTI Sperrkonto — feature overview

Quick answer: Editorial overview of BASTI's own verifiable terms. German consulates routinely accept any blocked account opened at a BaFin-regulated German bank; the table below documents what BASTI itself publishes. Verify the current pricing on each provider's own website before applying; final acceptance always rests with the responsible visa officer.

Editorial information about BASTI's own verifiable terms. Always verify the current price on each provider's own website before applying — consulate acceptance does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen.

German blocked-account market — regulatory context

Quick answer: The German Sperrkonto market is supervised by BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). Several BaFin-regulated providers issue Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the bundled route placed on this page; verifiability of every German bank is public via the BaFin company database.

Sutor Bank — formally Max Heinr. Sutor oHG — holds the BASTI deposit and appears in the BaFin company database (English). Every BaFin-regulated route issues the same legal certificate format (Sperrkontobestätigung); the German consulate sees that certificate regardless of the provider chosen. We do not rank providers — we describe the BASTI bundle and link to its terms; applicants are encouraged to compare published terms on each provider's own website before applying.

Common provider names that international students research when preparing the German student visa include Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse and Sutor Bank (the partner bank behind the BASTI bundle). This is an informational enumeration only — each provider publishes its own fees, processing times and conditions on its own website, and acceptance of any BaFin-regulated Sperrkonto rests with the responsible German consulate. This page focuses on the BASTI route.

Ausbildung visa & vocational-training trainees — does the blocked account apply?

Quick answer: Yes, in most cases. The German consulate verifies the same §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for a 12-month stay) for the Ausbildung visa as for the student visa. The standard exception is a paid Ausbildung where the training company's monthly salary clearly exceeds the BAföG threshold and is documented in the training contract — the consulate may then accept the salary as proof of finances instead of the Sperrkonto. Health-insurance proof works exactly the same way.

For unpaid or low-pay vocational training — vocational schools, healthcare assistant programmes, hospitality apprenticeships — the BASTI Sperrkonto is the cleanest path: it adds Care Visa Protect for the Schengen entry window and DAK garantie for the statutory student insurance the vocational school registers via the M10 notification. Trainees over 30 (or exempt from the GKV student tariff) use Care College during the language preparation that precedes most Ausbildung programmes.

Practical sequence: confirm with the training company whether the monthly salary qualifies as financial proof; if not, open the BASTI Sperrkonto first, then book the German consulate appointment. Reversing the order routinely costs an appointment slot when the certificate isn't ready on the day.

Quick answers — German blocked account in one paragraph each

Compact, sourceable answers for the highest-volume questions about the German Sperrkonto. Every answer is editorial information based on §13a AufenthV, the AufenthG and BASTI's own published price sheet — the final visa decision always rests with the responsible German consulate.

After your studies — closing, refunding or topping up the Sperrkonto

Quick answer: The Sperrkonto stays open year on year and is not automatically closed at the end of one residence permit. For year 2 and year 3, the holder simply tops up the existing account with another €11,904 (the §13a AufenthV amount) by SEPA transfer before the next Ausländerbehörde renewal. When the residence ends, a written cancellation refunds the remaining balance to a nominated IBAN in the holder's name.

For most international students the practical sequence is: year 1 is funded with the original €11,904 deposit; the bank releases €992 per month from Sperrfreigabe onwards; before the Ausländerbehörde renewal in month 11 or 12 the holder transfers the next year's €11,904 to the existing BASTI IBAN; the provider reissues a fresh Sperrkontobestätigung dated for the next 12 months that the Ausländerbehörde attaches to the file. No new application is required.

At graduation, when the residence converts to a job-search permit or an employment-based Aufenthaltstitel, the Sperrkonto is no longer needed as proof of finances. The holder sends a written cancellation to the provider together with proof of the new title or proof of departure; the remaining balance is wired to a nominated IBAN — usually the holder's German Girokonto or a home-country account in their own name — within a few working days. The blocked-account fee stops with the closure confirmation.

Indicative editorial guidance; closure mechanics depend on the responsible provider and the bank holding the deposit. Verify the current closure form and refund route with the provider before sending the cancellation notice.

Recommended blocked-account & insurance bundles — by case

BASTI — fees, premiums and what's included (Basic / Smart / Premium)

Quick answer: BASTI has three tiers. The blocked-account fee is identical across all three (€4.90/month + €65 one-time). The Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen visa-window cover) and DAK garantie (statutory student insurance after M10 enrolment) inside the bundle — a typical saving of about €153 on the Incoming insurance line vs. buying it separately.

Which Germany visa needs a Sperrkonto?

Quick answer: The blocked account is required when the visa is a long-stay national D-visa and the applicant cannot show another accepted proof of finances. Schengen C-visas (≤ 90 days) do not need a Sperrkonto; some short and family-visit routes use a Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) instead.

Not sure which fits? Try the 30-second tariff finder.

Germany visa & blocked-account requirement by country of citizenship

Quick answer: The Sperrkonto requirement is the same for every nationality applying for the German student or Chancenkarte D-visa. What differs is the German consulate processing time, the documentation depth and whether visa-free Schengen entry is available. The grid below covers the ten passports we see most often in BASTI applications.

Visa rules change — always confirm at the responsible German consulate (embassy of Germany) before booking. See the Auswärtiges Amt — German missions worldwide for the official German consulate list and per-country specifics.

First 30 days in Germany — post-arrival checklist

Quick answer: After the German consulate issues the D-visa and the applicant lands in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf or beyond, the first 30 days follow the same six steps — Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, a German Girokonto, Sperrfreigabe, the M10 notification, the switch from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie, and the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde.

1. Step 1 — Anmeldung within 14 days

   Register the German address at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. The Anmeldebestätigung is the prerequisite for Sperrfreigabe, the Girokonto, university enrolment and the residence permit.

2. Step 2 — Open a German Girokonto

   Open a normal German current account (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ING, DKB, N26). The IBAN receives the €992 monthly Sperrkonto payout and pays rent, transport and the DAK garantie premium.

3. Step 3 — Request Sperrfreigabe

   Send the Anmeldebestätigung and the new German IBAN to your Sperrkonto provider. The provider releases the €992 monthly payout schedule, usually within 1–3 working days.

4. Step 4 — Enrol at the university (M10-Meldung)

   At enrolment the registrar requires the electronic M10 insurance notification. Care Visa Protect does not generate an M10; students switch to DAK garantie (statutory student insurance, ~€135.52/month inside BASTI Smart) which sends the M10 automatically.

5. Step 5 — Switch from Care Visa Protect to DAK garantie

   End the Care Visa Protect contract once DAK garantie has confirmed cover. BASTI Smart and Premium include the discounted rate for the first months.

6. Step 6 — File the Aufenthaltstitel at the Ausländerbehörde

   Bring the Anmeldebestätigung, passport, Sperrkonto certificate, DAK garantie M10 confirmation and enrolment certificate. The Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium is then issued for the academic year.

Indicative timing — most students complete steps 1–3 in the first week and steps 4–6 over the first month. The Ausländerbehörde retains the binding decision on every residence-permit file.

Case study — Mumbai → Munich student visa in 21 days with BASTI

Related guides — visa, insurance and arrival in Germany

Glossary — blocked account, German visa and insurance terms

Quick answer: The terms below appear in nearly every German consulate file and Ausländerbehörde appointment for foreigners. Mastering them shortens the paperwork from days to one afternoon.

The German blocked-account market is supervised by BaFin. BASTI(Care Concept × Sutor Bank) is the bundled online route placed on this page; several other BaFin-regulated routes also issue Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. Acceptance does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen — the documents below appear in every consulate file.

Sperrkonto (blocked account)

A German bank account that holds a fixed amount of money the visa applicant cannot withdraw before arriving in Germany. The Sperrkonto serves as the proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis) every German consulate and the Ausländerbehörde require for the student visa, language-course visa and the Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card. Each month the bank releases a maximum monthly payout to the holder.

§ 13a AufenthV (Aufenthaltsverordnung)

The German residence-ordinance section that sets the minimum proof-of-finances amount for student-related residence titles. The amount is benchmarked to the BAföG rate (currently €992 per month, i.e. €11,904 for a 12-month stay) and is reviewed annually.

BASTI (Care Concept × Sutor Bank)

The blocked-account bundle offered by Care Concept AG together with Sutor Bank (the licensed German bank that holds the deposit). BASTI charges €4.90/month plus a one-time €65 setup fee. The Smart and Premium tiers add Care Visa Protect (Schengen-window cover) and the DAK garantie tariff (statutory German student insurance after enrolment) inside the bundle.

Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG)

A formal declaration of liability signed by a host in Germany at the local Ausländerbehörde. It can replace the Sperrkonto as proof of finances in some short-stay and family-visit cases — but is not usually accepted for the full multi-year student visa.

Chancenkarte / Opportunity Card

Germany's points-based job-seeker visa launched in 2024 for skilled workers from outside the EU. It allows up to 12 months in Germany to look for qualified work and requires proof of finances — typically a Sperrkonto with the current 12-month BAföG amount, or a Verpflichtungserklärung in selected cases.

Bürgeramt / Anmeldung

Germany's address-registration office. Newcomers register within 14 days of moving in (Anmeldung). The Anmeldebestätigung is required to activate the Sperrkonto, to open a regular Girokonto, to enrol at the university and to file the Aufenthaltstitel.

Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit)

The German residence title issued by the Ausländerbehörde after entry — typically the Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium for students or the Chancenkarte residence permit for job seekers. The Sperrkonto certificate and proof of health insurance are re-checked at issue and at every renewal.

M10-Meldung

The electronic insurance notification (DTA M10) that every German statutory or private health insurer sends to the university registrar. Without an M10 message the student cannot be formally enrolled — even after the visa is granted and the Sperrkonto is activated.

Sperrfreigabe (release of the blocked amount)

The administrative step at the German bank that converts the blocked balance into the monthly payout schedule (€992/month at the current BAföG rate). Sperrfreigabe is requested after entry into Germany, address registration and opening a regular Girokonto.

Auszahlungsbeleg (payout statement)

The monthly bank statement from the Sperrkonto bank documenting the €992 (or higher, depending on year) payout. Some Ausländerbehörden ask for the most recent Auszahlungsbeleg during residence-permit renewal as evidence that the funds are flowing as planned.

Proof of finances (Finanzierungsnachweis)

The umbrella term German consulates use for the document proving the applicant can pay for their stay. The Sperrkonto certificate is the standard proof-of-funding format; scholarship awards, Verpflichtungserklärungen and qualifying parental income statements can be accepted in narrower cases.

DAK garantie (DAK-Gesundheit)

The German statutory health-insurance contribution variant used by students under 30. After enrolment at a German university, students switch from Care Visa Protect (the visa-window bridge) to DAK garantie via the M10 notification. BASTI Smart and Premium include the first months of DAK garantie at no extra cost.

Care Visa Protect (Schengen cover)

Care Concept's Schengen-compliant insurance for the visa window before German enrolment opens. Meets the EU Visa Code (Reg. 810/2009) minimum: €30,000 medical cover plus repatriation, valid in all Schengen states, from €0.85/day with a minimum premium of €8.50. Bundled free with BASTI Smart and Premium.

Studienkolleg

Foundation-year programme in Germany for international applicants whose secondary-school certificate is not directly recognised. Studienkolleg students need the same Sperrkonto and health-insurance proofs as full-degree students; Care Visa Protect bridges the visa window and Care College covers the Kolleg phase, but Care College is NOT an M10 statutory cover for university enrollment — the M10 notification comes from DAK-Gesundheit (under 30) or Care Student (over 30 / exempt) once you matriculate.

Schengen C-visa vs. national D-visa (Germany)

A Schengen C-visa covers short stays up to 90 days in any 180-day window — no Sperrkonto required. A national D-visa is the long-stay visa for stays beyond 90 days; the student, language-course and Chancenkarte routes all use a national D-visa and require the Sperrkonto.

Sutor Bank (V-Bank AG)

The licensed German bank that holds the BASTI Sperrkonto deposit. Sutor Bank is BaFin-supervised (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and is the bank counterparty on the Sperrkonto certificate the embassy receives.

Embassy of Germany / German consulate

The diplomatic missions abroad that accept the visa file and the Sperrkonto certificate. The Auswärtiges Amt maintains the official list of consulates worldwide. The Sperrkonto certificate is typically uploaded with the visa application or presented at the appointment as a printed PDF.

Sparkasse Sperrkonto

A blocked-account variant some German Sparkasse branches offer for student-visa applicants. The workflow at a local bank branch typically requires an in-person appointment in Germany or a notarised application from abroad. Health-insurance proof is handled in a separate contract.

Deutsche Bank blocked account

Deutsche Bank also issues Sperrkonto certificates accepted by German consulates. Applicants who choose a bank-branch route normally arrange their visa-window health insurance and post-enrolment statutory insurance under separate contracts.

Other BaFin-regulated providers (informational mention)

Several BaFin-regulated blocked-account providers operate in Germany alongside BASTI. Each runs its own applicant portal for tracking the deposit and downloading the Sperrkontobestätigung. Acceptance at German consulates does not depend on the BaFin-regulated provider chosen; verify the current fees on each provider's own website.

Ausbildung (vocational training visa)

Germany's dual-system vocational training. Trainees from outside the EU apply for the Ausbildung visa, which the German consulate verifies the same way as the student visa: a Sperrkonto with the §13a AufenthV proof of finances (€11,904 for 12 months) — unless the training company pays a salary high enough to substitute as financial proof. Care Visa Protect bridges the Schengen window; statutory student insurance (DAK garantie) covers the training period.

Verpflichtungserklärung (§ 68 AufenthG) — extended

Beyond the short-stay use noted above: for the family-reunification visa and selected long-stay cases, a host in Germany can sign a Verpflichtungserklärung at their local Ausländerbehörde committing to cover the applicant's living costs. The host needs to prove sufficient income. For full-time degree and Chancenkarte visas the Sperrkonto is still the route German consulates normally require.

eGK (elektronische Gesundheitskarte)

The German electronic health card every statutory-insurance holder (and most private-insurance holders) receives. After enrolment + M10 notification, the statutory student insurer (DAK garantie via BASTI Smart/Premium) issues the eGK by post. The card is needed for every doctor visit and pharmacy purchase in Germany.

JVEG (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze)

The German statutory annual-income threshold (€77,400 in 2026) above which employees may opt out of GKV and into private (PKV) cover. Mostly relevant after graduation when a former student starts working — irrelevant during the Sperrkonto / student-visa phase, but cited here for context with the DAK garantie student tariff.

Familienzusammenführung / family reunification

Spouse and minor-child reunification under § 30 ff. AufenthG. For student-visa holders the German consulate typically expects a second §13a AufenthV deposit (€11,904 per accompanying adult) or a Verpflichtungserklärung. Accompanying family members also need their own Schengen-window health-insurance proof — Care Visa Protect — until they can join statutory family cover.

SWIFT / IBAN / BIC

The international transfer rails the Sperrkonto deposit travels on. SWIFT is the bank-to-bank messaging network used for cross-border wires; the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the German Sperrkonto bank is the destination account number; the BIC (Bank Identifier Code) identifies the German bank. Inside the Eurozone, SEPA transfers reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days; SWIFT wires from non-SEPA countries (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UAE, the UK after Brexit) typically settle in 2–5 working days.

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area)

The Eurozone-wide payment area covering 36 countries. SEPA Credit Transfers in EUR reach the Sperrkonto in 1–2 working days at no or low cost. Applicants funding the deposit from inside SEPA (Italy, Spain, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, etc.) typically use SEPA rather than SWIFT to save on FX and wire fees.

Geldwäschegesetz (GwG)

The German Anti-Money-Laundering Act. The Sperrkonto bank applies GwG checks to the €11,904 deposit: the funds must arrive in the applicant's own name, and large or third-party transfers (e.g. from parents, scholarships, education loans) may trigger a source-of-funds questionnaire. Standard documentation — parent's bank statement, scholarship award letter or loan-approval letter — usually clears the check within a few working days.

Freistellungsauftrag

A tax-exemption order German residents file with their bank so that capital-gains interest below the annual saver's allowance (€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples in 2026) is paid out without 25 % Kapitalertragsteuer withholding. Sperrkonto interest is tiny in practice, but filing a Freistellungsauftrag with the Sperrkonto bank after Anmeldung is the standard housekeeping step.

Wise / Revolut / Western Union (informational mention)

Common cross-border remittance services international students use to move the deposit from their home-country bank to the German Sperrkonto bank. As long as the sender name matches the applicant on the Sperrkonto application and the funds arrive in EUR via SWIFT or SEPA, the German bank accepts the transfer. Each service publishes its own FX and fee schedule — compare on the service's own website before sending.

Official sources & further reading

Every statute reference, amount and authority procedure on this page is checked against primary German sources at every quarterly editorial review. The links below open the original government and EU pages — useful when the visa officer asks where a requirement comes from.

• → gesetze-im-internet.de — § 13a AufenthV (proof-of-finances amount)
• → gesetze-im-internet.de — AufenthG (residence act, incl. § 68 Verpflichtungserklärung)
• → Auswärtiges Amt — German missions worldwide (consulate list)
• → make-it-in-germany.com — Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
• → BAMF — Migration and residence (English portal)
• → BaFin — Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (regulator of the German Sperrkonto banks)
• → EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code)

Issuer: Care Concept AG, Bonn (Germany) — BaFin-supervised insurance broker, banking partner Sutor Bank. Independent of every other named provider. This page is editorial information and does not replace individual legal or migration advice from a licensed German professional.

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